What’s Nagging

Thursday 15th

From her genre-spanning catalog to her unwavering support for the LBGT community, I love Cyndi Lauper. I have always wanted to see her live, but, sadly, it will not be on this night. Besides the fact that there was a horrendous lack of promotion for this concert (shame on you, Kyodo Tokai), tickets range from ¥9500 ~ ¥11,500! And my love only goes so far in my wallet.

Some weeks, you just can’t wait for Friday to start your weekend. DJs TAKE, Andy S. and I understand this, and we offer you this night of nothing-but-house-music as a herald to your holiday. DOOR ¥2000

Friday 16th

I disregarded this talented Saitama shoegaze band last month because their opening acts were so awesome. However, I won’t make the same mistake this month… because opening band Michael Japan just sucks. DOOR ¥2500 www.mothercoat.com/

Saturday 17th

This yearly gathering has everything you’d expect from a St. Patrick’s Day Parade and more. There will be Irish dancing, Irish music, Irish cothing, Irish setters and,of course, Irish beer! Always crowded on a Saturday, the Osu shopping arcade tends to get beyond capacity when you throw in several hundred more foreigners.

Once the parade is finished, you will have a number of places to head to continue the celebration. However, the number one spot this and every year is Shooters, just down the way from the parade site. Along with plenty of Guinness and Irish fare available, they will also have the traditional Irish music of Brian Cullen.

The VOICE at Plastic Factory in Imaike from 22:00 www.plasticfactory.jpIf you cannot catch Primalize’s brilliantly crafted tech-house mix on Friday, you’ve got one more chance to this weekend. He’s headlining at the return of the VOICE party with several other techno and trance DJs. WOMEN ¥500 (1D) / MEN ¥2000 (1D)

Monday 19th

Hailing from Florida, Ben Cooper is a very talented songwriter who performs in a number of acts. However, it was his solo work as Radical Face and his latest album The Roots that first brought his hauntingly beautiful tales of home and family to my attention. This concert gets my highest recommendation. DOOR ¥3500

X-Hall continues to prove that Osu is more than just kitschy shops and sketchy otaku with a series of amazing international acts, the latest of which is Maya Jane Coles. Even a cursory listen to her deep house tracks gives clear evidence why she was voted Producer of the Year 2011 by DJ Mag. DOOR ¥3000

Every year, the ballroom dance group Nagoya Swings celebrates the Spring Equinox the traditional way; with dance and karaoke. If you have two left feet, no worries; the swing kids will be giving free lessons all night. And since Monday is a national holiday, after midnight the party continues at JOY JOY karaoke in Fushimi.